Antisplash device

ABSTRACT

An antisplash device for use in conjunction with a douching or rinsing apparatus includes a substantially conical or frustoconical hollow shell member received in an upper opening in a guard ring in the form of a section of a sphere. The inner concave surface of the shield member controls and guides the water issuing from the douching apparatus while the outer surface thereof cooperates with the guard ring to prevent slashing of returning used water and to shield the fresh water from this used water.

United States Patent 72] inventor Ernst Olof Andersson Radhusgntan 14,S827 00, Ljusdnl, Sweden [21'] .Appl. No. 812,245 [22] Filed Apr. 1,1969 [45] Patented July 6, 1971 32 Priority Apr. 1, 1968 [33] Sweden[31] 4325/68 [54] ANTISPLASH DEVICE 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] -U.S.Cl 4/7, 4/1 [51 A4714 3/22 [50] Field ofSearch 4/6, 7, l, DIG,5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 305,847 9/1884 Reed 4/7663,826 12/1900 Baker... 4/7

856,468 6/1907 Jacob 4/7 1,329,718 2/1920 McNamara 4/7 1,385,604 7/1921Bradley........ 4/7 1,521,892 [/1925 Koppin..... 4/7 2,705,495 4/1955Vrana 4/7 2,995,759 8/1961 Gentry 4/7 FOREIGN PATENTS 725,011 10/1931France 4/7 1,041,376 10/1953 France 4/7 389,178 3/1933 Great Britain .l4/6 Primary Examiner-Laverne D. Geiger Assistant Examiner-Henry K. ArtisAtt0mey- Larson, Taylor and Hinds ABSTRACT: An antisplash device for usein conjunction with a douching or rinsing apparatus includes asubstantially conical or frustoconical hollow shell member received inan upper opening in a guard ring in the form of a section of a sphere.The inner concave surface of the shield member controls and guides thewater issuing from the douching apparatus while the outer surfacethereof cooperates with the guard ring to prevent slashing of returningused water and to shield the fresh water from this used water.

ANTISPLASH DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesto an antisplash device for use in conjunction with a douching device toprovide protection against stray water issuing fromthe douching deviceand, in particular, to an antisplash device which is adapted to bereleasably attached to a bidet, toilet seat, bath tub or any othersuitable support. The invention further relates to an antisplash devicepivotally attached to a seat frame and provided with a holder for adouching or irrigating device, for example, a douching device formingpart of a bath tub fixture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bidets or like devices are used for gentleand effective cleaning of individual body portions, particularly inconjunction with douching or similar rinsing devices for analirrigation, for medical, therapeutic or purely sanitary cleaningpurposes. However, soiling of the room and user by stray water as wellas soiling of the douching or rinsing device by the return ing usedwater is a problem which cannot be entirely avoided and is one ofparticular seriousness regarding stationary bidets, so-called standardbidets, as well as other bidet devices which are not fitted withprotective devices guarding against stray" and/or spray water.

It is noted that a device for protection against stray and spray watermust not reduce the desired rinsing or cleaning effect, but shouldcontribute to the attainment of a proper cleaning rinse suitable forvarious purposes or needs. In any satisfactory application whereas theclean water thrown up by the douching or rinsing device must becollected and must be projected at the required spray pressure required,nevertheless it must be possible to adjust the water flow to form adouchelike cluster of jets which has a limited spray pattern, which canbe directed or guided in the form ofa finely divided spray towards acorresponding treatment point, and which has a locally adjustableeffective cleaning or rinsing effect suitable for the treatment inquestion. Further, the returning used water must not fall back onto theclean water jet or the douching or rinsing device and must not sprayabout the general area. In brief, bidet devices known heretofore do notfulfill the demands made on such sanitary devices for both hygienic andaesthetic reasons and thus there exists a need for a device which willperform the various functions noted and still be acceptable from both ahygienic and an aesthetic standpoint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages and defects in prior bidetdevices described above as well as others not specifically described areavoided by the antisplash device according to the invention.

In accordance with the invention an antisplash device for use inconjunction with a douching or rinsing device is provided whichcomprises a guard ring in the shape of a hollow ball or hemisphericalshell, and a hollow shield member of substantially conical orfrustoconical shape, the guard ring having an open base adapted toreceive therein a'douching or rinsing device, and an opening in the apexin which the shield member is attached to the guard ring, the shieldmember having an open base which faces the douching or rinsing devicewhen the latter is in position, and at least one opening in the top ofthe shield member to serve as an outlet for water issuing from thedouching or rinsing device.

Preferably the antisplash device is adapted to be attached to a seatframe ofa bidet, toilet, bath tub or other support.

The invention extends also to an antisplash device as defined above,wherein the device is attached to a seat frame and incorporates a holderfor a douching or rinsing device or a holder with a douching or rinsingdevice, the seat frame being part of, or attachable to, a bidet, toilet,bath tub or other support.

The concave inner surface of the guard ring facing the douching orrinsing device is intended to catch douching water or clean watertravelling beyond the limits of the area of the opening is open of theguard ring, and the convex outer surface thereof facing the seat frameor the treatment point is intended to catch returning used water andguide it past the douching or rinsing device in a splash-free manner.The conical or frustoconical control or shield member attached to theopen opening of the guard ring, being open at its base facing thedouching or rinsing device will catch any clean water which travelsupwardly through the base opening in an undesirable lateral direction,and thus will prevent clean water from spraying about during its passagethrough the conical shield member. The opening or openings in the top ofthe shield member guide or direct the clean water towards the treatmentpoint in the form of a single jet, a cluster ofjets or a finelydistributed spray which has a limited spray pattern. Means may beprovided for adjustment of the positioning of the device to therespective needs of a user and for directing the flow of water towardsthe treatment point. The antisplash device thus produced may be carriedtogether with the douching or rinsing device by a composite holder whichmay be pivotally attached to a seat frame forming part of, or attachableto a bidet, toilet, bath tub or other support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention willbe described below by way of example with reference to the accompanyingDESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An antisplash device according tothe invention consists of a guard ring 1 and a control or shieldingmember 3 attached thereto and forming with the guard ring a unit servingas protection against stray and spray water. The guard ring 1 hasapproximately the shape of a section of a hollow sphere or hemisphericalshell having a lower opening or open base 2 and an apex opening 5. Acontrol or shield member 3 is attached to the apex opening 5, the shieldmember 3 having the shape ofa truncated cone and being provided with anopening 4 at the base thereof facing towards a douching or rinsingdevice 10 (FIG. 3), and with an opening t5v at its top facing towards aseat frame 8 or the treatment point. If desired, a plurality of openings6 may be provided-The conical shield member 3 may be attached to theguard ring 1 in such a manner that the base opening 4 of the shieldmember 3 coincides with the open opening 5; alternatively the baseopening 4 may be offset downwardly to some extent below the peripheraledge of the apex opening 5 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1.However, the opening 5 should surround the conical outer wall of thecontrol or shield member 3 tightly regardless of the longitudinalposition thereof relative to the base opening 4.

The inner concave surface of the guard ring 1 is intended to catch cleanwater which travels upwardly from the douching or rinsing device 10beyond the limits of the open opening 4, the douching or rinsing devicebeing disposed below the antisplash device so that undesirablescattering of water is effectively avoided, whereas the convex outersurface has the task to intercept returning used water and to guide itin a substantially splash-free manner past the clean water jet or jetsand the douching or rinsing device 10 and over the peripheral edge ofthe guard ring 1 to an outlet, a return water collector or the like (notshown).

The conical shield member 3 attached to the apex opening 5 serves thepurpose of catching the clean water travelling upwardly through the baseopening 4 and of controlling and guiding this water through apex opening6 in a spray-free manner to the treatment point in the form of a clusterof jets constituting a finely divided but coherent clean water spray ofa controlled spray pattern, adjustable to the particular needs of auser.

The guard ring 1 contains a plurality of peripheral recesses andperforations 7. The antisplash device 1, 3 and the douching or rinsingdevice are supported by a holder 9 which consists of a plurality ofparts and which engages supportingly into the peripheral recesses 7 ofthe guard ring 1. Portions of the holder 9 is preferably angled withrespect to antisplash device 1, 3 and the holder 9 is provided with anumber of carrier members 11, located at an angle with respect to theplane of the guard ring 1, for mounting the douching or rinsing device10, the position of the carrier mem-' bers 11 being adjustable. As isillustrated schematically in FIG. 3, the holder 9 is pivotally andremovably attached to the seat frame 8. The device according to theinvention permits a clean waterflow to be obtained which does not splashor stray and which can be adjusted in accordance with the needs ofvarious application purposes. Further, the flow is substantiallycentered and guided so that spraying of the water and the resultingsoiling areprecluded and hence the formation of colonies of bacteria andthe transfer of various illnesses is avoided. At the same time, thesanitary cleaning provided by the present invention is effective andgentle. A unit incorporating the antisplash device according to theinvention together with a seat frame, to which the device may beattached by a holder which is adapted to receive a douching device, orwhich is provided with a nozzle ready for connection to a watersupply isreadily transportable and can be stored for immediate use-The device, orthe whole unit, may be used ambulatorily and may be employed, forexample, in hospitals, private dwellings or convalescent homes withlimited toilet or bathroom space.

Although the invention has been described in detail with particularreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the scope and spiritof the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appendedclaims.

lclaim:

1. An antisplash apparatus for use with a douching or rinsing device,comprising an antisplash device comprising a guard ring in the shape ofa section of a hollow spherical shell, and a hollow shield member ofsubstantially conical or frustoconical shape defining a duet for thepassage of water therethrough, said guard ring having an open base forcatching douching water or clean water from a douching or rinsing deviceof a bidet, toilet or other support, and an opening in the apex thereofwhich the shield member is received, said shield member having an openbase which faces the douching or rinsing device when the latter is inposition, and at least one opening in the top of the shield member forproviding an outlet for water issuing from the douching or rinsingdevice and flowing through the duct defined by the a shield member.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means forattaching said antisplash device to a seat frame of a bidet, toilet,bath tub or other support.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means forattaching the shield member to the guard ring in such a manner that theopen base of the shield member coincides with the apex opening of theguard ring.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means forattaching the shield member to the guard ring in such a manner that theopen base of the shield member is located below the peripheral edge ofthe apex opening of the guard ring, the edge closely surrounding theshield member.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a holder forpivotally and removably attaching said antisplash device to a seat frameof a bidet, toilet, bath tub or other support, said holder includingmeans for supporting a douching device or nozzle and including carriermembers and mounting members located at an angle to the plane of theguard ring and adi'sustable relatively thereto.

. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the holder 18

1. An antisplash apparatus for use with a douching or rinsing device,comprising an antisplash device comprising a guard ring in the shape ofa section of a hollow spherical shell, and a hollow shield member ofsubstantially conical or frustoconical shape defining a duct for thepassage of water therethrough, said guard ring having an open base forcatching douching water or clean water from a douching or rinsing deviceof a bidet, toilet or other support, and an opening in the apex thereofwhich the shield member is recEived, said shield member having an openbase which faces the douching or rinsing device when the latter is inposition, and at least one opening in the top of the shield member forproviding an outlet for water issuing from the douching or rinsingdevice and flowing through the duct defined by the a shield member. 2.An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means forattaching said antisplash device to a seat frame of a bidet, toilet,bath tub or other support.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising means for attaching the shield member to the guard ring insuch a manner that the open base of the shield member coincides with theapex opening of the guard ring.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1further comprising means for attaching the shield member to the guardring in such a manner that the open base of the shield member is locatedbelow the peripheral edge of the apex opening of the guard ring, theedge closely surrounding the shield member.
 5. An apparatus as claimedin claim 1, further comprising a holder for pivotally and removablyattaching said antisplash device to a seat frame of a bidet, toilet,bath tub or other support, said holder including means for supporting adouching device or nozzle and including carrier members and mountingmembers located at an angle to the plane of the guard ring andadjustable relatively thereto.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5,wherein the holder is removably attached to the support device of abidet.
 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the holder engagessupportingly into peripheral recesses in the guard ring by means of amember which is approximately parallel to the base area of the guardring and embraces, in a position securing manner, a part of theperipheral edge of the guard ring at a location approximatelydiametrically opposite the recesses.